A CAMPAIGN has been launched to preserve Brentford Magistrates' Court, which is due to close in December, as a market place.

Brentford & Isleworth MP Mary Macleod believes the move would provide a much-needed boost to local businesses and support the regeneration of the town centre.

She called on Hounslow Council this week to buy the historic building, owned by the Ministry of Justice, on behalf of the community.

She believes the old court, in Brentford High Street, could be used as an indoor and outdoor market, selling food, antiques, clothes and much more.

"If we cannot secure the court's future for the community, then we may not be able to use the car park for festivities, such as the very successful St George's Day celebrations," she said.

"I am happy to work with any group, body or organisation in the hope of maintaining this building as a focus for community action."

Mrs Macleod accepts cash-strapped Hounslow Council would struggle to find the money for the building, having already earmarked money from the London Mayor's Outer London Fund for other improvements.

However, she is keen to hear from private investors interested in such a scheme, which has the backing of Brentford High Street Steering Group and local businesses.

Andrew Dakers, chairman of the steering group, said the priority was to preserve the car park for public use. If the building were to be turned into a market place, he added, it was important to come up with a 'commercially viable' plan.

Tim Luckett, of Brentford Chamber of Commerce, estimated the building and land would cost about £1.5 million and would require about £2m of investment.

"In an ideal world we would like to see a private investor allowing some of the building to be given over to community use," he said.

Julia Quilliam, owner of Brentford estate agents Quilliam Property Services, said she did not believe it would be viable to convert the building for residential or office use but was convinced a market would prove a hit.

Brentford Magistrates' Court was originally built in the 1850s as a town hall on the site of the town's old market place.

It was bought for use as a magistrates' court in 1891 by Middlesex County Council and was twice extended due to a lack of space.

The court is one of more than 140 across the country to be closed as a result of government cuts.

Its doors are due to shut for the last time on December 9, with services being transferred to Uxbridge and Feltham magistrates' courts.